UFC planning 'closer to 50' events in 2014 – with new online network

LAS VEGAS – If you think it’s been tough keeping up with the UFC’s 33 events this year, your job’s about to get much tougher in 2014.

According to UFC President Dana White, the organization plans to host 50 worldwide events next year, and a new online/digital network will be the exclusive way to watch some of them.

Although White shared only basic details about the new venture, he said the new network will serve an important purpose. Events will continue to air on pay-per-view, FOX, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 in 2014, but some of the UFC’s international events are geared toward region-specific audiences. However, if you’re in the UFC’s substantial North American fan base, the online network will assure you can watch all those overseas bouts.

“People don’t understand … the fights that we do in China are for China,” he told MMAjunkie. “The fights we do in Europe are going to be for Europe. But with this new digital network that we’re launching, people who are hardcore fans and want to watch the fights will be able to.

“It’s a completely new experience because what it’s going to be based around is live fights. Obviously, you’re going to have access to the library and lots of other programming that’s going to be on the network, but there’s going to be a ridiculous amount of live fights.”

The organization is expected to announce further details, including availability and cost, as well as an early-2014 schedule, in the coming weeks. But with a potential 50 percent increase in the number of annual UFC shows, the network is one vehicle that White hopes will eliminate some of the many expected headaches ahead.

“I think we’re going to do closer to 50 (events next year),” White said. “In building this business and growing this sport, there are all kinds of challenges. We’ve dealt with just about every challenge you can deal with, and I’m sure we’re going to find new ones that we never knew existed going into these other countries.”

For more on the plans, check out the video ahead.

For the latest on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.